Target.



F. C. REED & E. A..& E. D. PARKER. TARGET. APPLICATION FILED AuG.25. 1915.

' Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EnANxc. REED, ERNESTy A. PARKER, AND. EDWIN 'n PARKER, oE sPRrNGEIELD, oHIo.` TARGET. i

To all whom it may concern: f

Be it known that we, citizen of the United States, and ERNEST A. PARKER `and EDWIN D.1PARKER, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Targets, of which the following is a specificatio Our invention relates to improvements in targets andmore particularly to targets which are designed for indoor shooting in which the front and rear ofthe target proper are illuminated.

The' object of the invention is to provide means for spotting the shots in a target which employs standard target cards which may be removed and replaced and which are capable'of being perforated by the bullet.

A further and more specific object is to provide means for causing the impact of the bullet to extinguish the front illuminating lights of the target and to also provide means for automatically restablishing such lights after a predetermined period of time in order that a light placed back of the target card may enable the shooter to see or locate the position of the shot from the firing line.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front View of the device embodying our improvements.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fi 1.

Ighg. 3 is a side view of certain of the parts, showing the yarrangement of the electric circuit for the lights.

` Fig. 4 is a detail section of the retarding device fora circuit closer.

Referring to the said drawings, 1 represents a suitable supportingframe on othe upper portion of which is secured a compartment 2, having a forward opening 3, of suitable size .to disclose the target member proper, which is a card 5 of'y conventional form removably supported in a slide 4: 1ocated atthe rear of the compartment 2, so

that by removmg the slide from the compartment the card may be removed and replaced by a freshone. The compartment 2 is preferably'providedon its forward slde below the opening 3 with a metalllc plate 2 and also immediately back'of the target cardk 5 with anopening 2. Secured to the rear Speceation of Letters Patent. y

FRANK C. REED, ay

n l. in line withv this opening 2 1s a rearwardly converging metallic chamber 6 having its rear open end normallyV closed by a metallic plate 7 which is secured to an arm 8 pivotjed at 9 to ears 9 extendlng upwardly from the chamber 6; the forward .end of the arm being provided with an adjustable screw 10 for the purpose hereof the co partment'2 inafter explained. The arm 8 between the plate 7 and the pivotal point 9 is connected located in a cylinder 11. The lower end of the cylinder has an escape orifice which may be located in a plug 13 screwed into the side of and present instance as a small screw 14 toregu late the escape of the fluid from the cylinder as the plston descends for the purpose to bev explained. In the lower portion of the compartment 2 in front of the target card 5 arek electric lights 16, two being shown'in the present instance, and located on an extension of the compartment 2, back of the target card 5 is another electric light 17 the light from which enters the chamber 6 through an opening 18 formed therein; a suitable door 19 being preferably provided to form laccess to the light 17. The lights'l are in a circuit consisting of the wires 20, 21, circuit breakers 22 and 23 and wire 24. The light 17 is in circuit with the main wires 20 and 21, throughthe wires 25 and 26 and burns continuously. Contact22 is on the arm 8 and the contact 23 is secured to the chamber 6 but is insulated therefrom.

In the operation of the device, after the bullet passes through the target card 5 it is deflected against the plate 7, the impact of the bullet swinging said plate and its arm 8 upwardly about the pivotal point 9, the arm carrying with it the piston 12. A spring 15 in the cylinder 11 and the screw 10 on the end of the arm 8 act as stops. to limit the upward movement of the plate 7 and arm 8. This breaks the circuit of the lights 16 yby separating the contacts 22 and 23 thus extinguishing the lights 16 and allowing the light from the lamp 17 to show through the perforation caused by the'y itis for'this purpose that the retarding deu Y .Patented Apr. 24,' 1917. Application led August 25, 1:915. Serial No. 47,352. l

I the cylinder having a regulating device, shown`in the vice i's employed to extinguished, the

cause the arm 8 and plates 7 to settle gradually back to their normal position to close the contacts 22 and 23. The-'piston the nature of a dash-pot, the air below the piston gradually escaping through the orifice in the plug 13 and causing the piston and consequently the arm 8 and plate 7 to return gradually to their normal position.

As before explained the target member proper is a white paper card of standard form having printed thereon in black the usual bullseye and series of concentric circles. After the forwardl lights have been rear light enables the see his shot but also the black bulls eye and circles so that the position of the shot may be readily determined.

If desired, a back stop of any suitable form may be placed at-the end of the chamber 6, though this is not absolutely necessary as ordinarily the bullet, after striking the plate 7, drops to the Hoor, the inclination given to the plate 7 causing the bullet to have this tendency.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a target member capable of being perforated, illuminating means in front of said target and illuminating means in the rear of sai target, devices located in the path of the bullet back of said target and operated by shooter to not only the impact of said bullet to extinguish the forward illuminating means, and means for automatically restoring said forward illuminating means.

2. In a'device of a target member capable of being perforated, illuminating means in front of said target and illuminating means in the rear of sai target, devices located in the path of the bullet back of said target and operated by the impact thereof to extinguish the forward illuminating means, but at the same time leave the rear illuminating means in illuminating condition, and means for automatically restoring said forward illuminating means.

3. In a device of the character described, an immovable rearwardly converged deflector chamber having an open front, a target member capable of being perforated of substantially the same size as the open front of the said chamber and covering the same, illuminating means in front of said target and illuminating means in the rear of said target, and devices located at the rear end of said delector chamber and operated by the impact of the bullet to extinguish the forward illuminating means.

4. In a device of the character described, an immovable rearwardly converged deflector chamber having an open front, a target member capable of being perforated of sub- 12 in the cylinder 11 acts in the character described,

stantially the same size as said open front and covering the same, illuminating means in front of said target and illuminating means in the rear of said target, devices located at the rear end: of said deector chamber and operated by the impact of the bullet to extinguish the forward illuminating means, and'means for restoring said forward illuminating means.

5. In a device ofthe character described, a target member capable of being perforated, illuminating means in front of said target and illuminating means in the rear of said target, a rearwardly converged deflector chamber in the rear of said target, a gravity restored device located at the end of said chamber and operated by the impact of the bullet to extinguish said forward illuminating means, and means for retarding the return to normal position of said restoring device.

6. In a device of the character described, a target member capable of being perforated, illuminating means in the front of said target and illuminating means in the rear of said target, a rearwardly converged deflector chamber in the rear of said target, a gravity and a dash-pot connected with said device for retarding the return thereof to normal position.

7. In a device of the character described, a target member capable of being perforated, electric illuminating devices in front of said target and electric illuminating devices in the rear of said target, devices located in the path of the bullet back of said target and operated by the impact thereof to break the circuit through said forward illuminating devices, and means for automatically establishing said circuit upon the return of said devices to normal position.

8. In a device of the character described, a target member capable of being perforated, electric illuminating devices in front of said target and electric illuminating devices in the rear of said target, devices located in the path of the bullet back of said target and operated by the impact thereof to break the circuit through the forward illuminating devices, said bullet operated devices being arranged *o restore the circuit upon their return to normal position, and means for retarding the return of said operating devices to normal position.

9. In a device of the character described, an immovable rearwardly converged deflector chamber having an open front, a target member capable of being perforated of substantially the same size and shape as said open front and covering the 4same, electric illuminating devices in front of said target and electric illuminating devices in the rear y of said target, and a circuit breaker member located at the rear of said chamber and arranged to be operated by the im act of the bullet to break the circuit throng said forward illuminating devices.

10. In a device of the character described, a target member capable of being perforated, electric illuminating devices in front of said target and electric illuminating devices in the rear of said target, a rearwardly converged deiector chamber said target, a circuit breaker member located at the rear of said chamber and arranged to be operated by the impact of the bullet to break the circuit through said forward illuminating devices, and'means forautomatically returning said circuit breaker to normal position. e

ll. In a device of the character a target member capable of being erforated, electric illuminating devices in front o fsaid target and electric converged deector chamber in the rear of said target, a circuit breaker member located at the rear of said chamber and arranged to be operated by the impact of the bullet to break the circuit through said forward illuminating devices, said circuit breaker being arranged to return to normal position by gravity, and means for retarding the return of same to normal position.

12. In a device of the character described, a target member having printed thereon conventional marks and capableof be' perforated, illuminating means located 1n the front of said target/'- and also in. the `rear thereof, and means located `in the path of a c bullet perforating any part of said tar et and actuated by the impact of the same 01' extinguishing illuminating means.

13. In a device of the a target member having printed thereon conventional marks and capable of being perforated, illuminating means located in the rear of said target member and also in the front thereof, means actuated by the impact of the bullet for extinguishing said forward illuminating means, and means for said forward automatically in the rear of described, b

character described,`

restoring said forward illuminatlng means. l

14. In a device of the character described, a target member proper consisting of a card having conventional marks thereon and capable 'of being perforated, illuminating means located in the rear of said target and illuminating means located in the front thereof, a converged rearwardly extending chamber back of said target member, and devices located at the end of the chamber operated by the impact of the bullet for extinguishing said forward illuminating means, said devices being arranged to vreturn to their normal position and restore said for- Ward illuminating means.

15. In a device of the character described, an immovable rearwardly converged chamer having. an open front, a removable target member having thereon conventional marks and capable of being perforated at any point on its surface, said target member being of substantially the same size as the open front of said chamber and covering the same electric illuminating means in the front of said target and also in the rear thereof, devices actuated by the impact ofY a bullet perforating said target and located at the rear end of said chamber'for extinguishing said forward illuminating means, and means for restoring said devices to normal position. N

16. In a device of the character described, a target member capable of being perforated, a converged rearwardly extending chamber back of said target member, a hinged impact member closing the. rear end of said chamber arranged to swing the bullet, illuminating means in the front of said target `member, and devices controlled by the swinging of said impact member for extinguishingl saidk illuminating means.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 21st day of August 1915.

FRANK C. REED. ERNEST A. PARKER. EDWIN D. PARKER. Witness:

CHAs. lI. WELCH. 

